Unwinding aid for textile apparatus



April 8, 1969 A w. PARKER 3,437,283

UNWINDING AID FOR TEXTILE APPARATUS Filed June 15, 1967 Sheet of 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY April 8, 1969 w. PARKER UNWINDING AID FOR TEXTILE APPARATUS Sheet Filed June 15, 1967 INVENTOR ATTORNEY United States Patent US. Cl. 242-128 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for use in withdrawing yarn from a wound package in a predetermined direction, comprising support means for supporting the yarn package; and yarn deflecting means including a rim located in the path of yarn to be withdrawn from the package, and further including means for producing a current of fluid flowing in a direction away from the rim and deflecting the yarn being withdrawn to thereby space the same from the rim.

Cross-reference to related application A related application, of which the present disclosure is a continuation-in-part, was filed on Apr. 22, 1965 under the title Method of Unwinding Yarn, Ser. No. 472,377, now US. Patent No. 3,339,862.

Background of the invention The present invention relates to textile apparatus in general, and more particularly to yarn processing apparatus. Still more particularly, the invention relates to apparatus for use in withdrawing yarn from a yarn package and in a predetermined direction.

In the manufacture and processing of yarn, which latter term is intended to refer to all types of filamentary material, it is customary to wind the yarn in form of a $0- called yarn package. For further processing of the yarn, or when the same is to 'be used in making textiles or the like, the yarn must subsequently be withdrawn again from this package.

During such withdrawal, which usually takes place over-end in substantially axial direction of the yarn package, problems usually are encountered. Specifically, direct axial withdrawal without first providing the yarn with a component of movement transversely of the package axis, has been found impractical for various reasons. Therefore, devices have been developed which are provided with a usually disc-shaped deflecting member which is arranged coaxially with the package directly downstream thereof as seen in the direction in which yarn is withdrawn. The deflecting member has a diameter greater than the maximum diameter of the yarn package so that yarn, which is withdrawn from the package in axial direction thereof, is forced to initially move outwardly away from the package transversely of the axis thereof, to thereupon pass over the rim of the deflecting member for movement in axial direction of the package.

However, these devices in turn present problems because of the considerable friction which develops during movement of the yarn, which is usually withdrawn at high speed, over the rim of the deflecting member.

Summary of the invention The present invention overcomes the disadvantages existing in the state of the art.

More particularly, the present invention provides an apparatus in which yarn is withdrawn from a yarn package with the help of a deflecting means but without any 3,437,283 Patented Apr. 8, 1969 frictional contact between the yarn and such deflecting means.

The apparatus in accordance with the present invention also provides for withdrawal of the yarn at an inclination to the surface of the yarn package, and substantially free from tension.

Briefly stated, one feature of my invention resides in the provision of an apparatus for use in withdrawing yarn from a wound package in a predetermined direction, comprising support means for supporting the yarn package; and yarn deflecting means including a rim located in the path of yarn to be withdrawn from the package, and further including means for producing a cur-rent of fluid flowing in a direction away from the rim and deflecting the yarn being withdrawn to thereby space the same from the rim.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, 'both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Brief description 0 the drawing FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic sectional elevation of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a section taken on the line II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, but showing another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a section taken on the line IV-IV of FIG. 3.

Description 0 the preferred embodiments The apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a shaft or spindle '25 which is mounted for rotation in direction of the curved arrow in suitable bearings and in a manner which may correspond to that which will later be described with reference to FIG. 3.

Mounted for rotation coaxially with the shaft 25, but independently therefrom, is a yarn package 12 of substantially cylindrical configuration. Of course, the configuration may be ditferent, but for the sake of this description it will be assumed to be cylindrical. Yarn 11 is to be withdrawn from the package 12 in the direction indicated by the arrow which is associated with the leading free end of the yarn 11.

In accordance with the invention, the shaft 25 comprises a mounting hub 26 which, as seen in FIG. 1, is located axially adjacent to the package 12 and downstream of the direction of withdrawal, which is to say forwardly of the package 12 as seen in the axial direction thereof. The hub 26 is rotatable with the shaft 25 and in turn has secured thereto, for rotation therewith, yarn deflecting means generally indicated with reference numeral 13. This deflecting means 13 includes a rotatable member 16 of generally frusto-conical form and provided with a rim 14. FIG. 1 shows that the member 16 comprises two complementary wall sections 18 which are superposed with spacing from one another.

Each of the wall sections comprises a radially outer conically tapering portion 22 and a radially inner substantially planar portion 23 integral or rigid with the respective portion 22, as shown in FIG. 1. The respective portions 22, and the respective portions 23 define with one another a fluid passage 19 and apertures 24 provided in the uppermost or foremost of the wall sections 18 and specifically at a point or points 21 inwardly spaced from the rim 14, communicate with this fluid passage 19.

The wall sections are connected to one another, and maintained at their pre-determined spacing, by suitable members which in FIG. 2 are illustrated as pins or bolts 27, but which may also have the form of strip-shaped fluid guide vanes, or another suitable configuration which will offer itself readily to those skilled in the art. It is essential, however, that they not hinder the flow of fluid from the apertures 24 to the open side of passage 19 which terminates in the region of the rim 14.

It will be understood that upon rotation of the member 16, air or another ambient fluid will be aspirated into the apertures 24 from where it will travel through the passage 19, to be expelled forcefully from the same in the region of rim 14 as a fluid stream. The yarn 11, which is being withdrawn from the package 12 in axial direction of the latter over the rim 14, will be deflected outwardly away from the same by this fluid current, and will be positively prevented from contacting the rim.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 also comprises the rotatable shaft 25 which is supported for rotation in a roller or analogous bearing 33. The bearing 33 is mounted in a support structure 34 which, in the illustrated embodiment, comprises a generally cylindrical member 35 secured to a frame 36, the member 35 being adapted to support a yarn package 37 the former or bobbin tube 28 of which surrounds the shaft. A sliding bearing 39 is arranged between the upper end of the fenner 28 and the shaft 25. In the embodiment of FIG. 3 a wharve 41 is provided on the lower end of shaft 25 and can be frictionally engaged for rotating the shaft via a belt 40.

The yarn 11 is again withdrawn in the manner discussed with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 and also shown in FIG. 3. Unlike FIGS. 1 and 2, however, the deflecting member 16 of FIG. 3, which is rotatable with the shaft 25, comprises two wall sections 18' and 18" of which only one, namely the section 18', has a configuration reminiscent of the corresponding section in FIG. 1 and is provided with apertures 24'. The other section, identified with reference numeral 18", is of substantially planar configuration and thus defines with the section 18' a fluid passage 19 which tapers in cross-section towards the rim 14 and with which the apertures 24' cornmuni-.

cate, the taper being preferably such that the area of a circumferentially extending section through the taper is the same for all radii to the taper.

Advantageously, a plurality of blades 31 or similar elements are arranged between the sections 18' and 18" in such a manner as to impel fluid aspirated through the apertures 24' during rotation of the member 16, to move in the passage 19 outwardly toward and beyond the rim 14. In accordance with one feature of the invention the blades 31 may be the blades of a centrifugal fluid impeller member 30 secured to the wall section 18".

Operation of the embodiment in FIGS. 3 and 4 is the same as that of the one shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the yarn 11 again leaving the surface of package 12 in a direction at right angles, or substantially at right angles, to such surface and under no or substantially no tension.

It will be self-evident that the shaft 25 can be rotated at a variety of speeds, for example with an angular velocity equal to the greatest angular velocity with which the yarn is to be withdrawn from the package.

The apparatus in accordance with the present invention can be incorporated in various textile machines and is particularly suitable for unwinding yarn from a steamed or cylindrical soft-wound package, where the yarn windings are often found to be trapped by some of the adjacent windings, and the novel apparatus helps overcome this problem.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of arrangements differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a yarn-withdrawing apparatus, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features which fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of my contribution to the art and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:

1. Apparatus for use in withdrawing yarn from a wound package in a predetermined direction, comprising support means for supporting the yarn package; and rotatable yarn deflecting means including a rim located in the path of yarn to be withdrawn from the package, and further including means for producing a current of fluid flowing in a direction away from said rim and having a first component of movement effecting spacing of the yarn from said rim and a second component of movement effecting displacement of the yarn in direction circumferentially of said rim.

2. Apparatus for use in withdrawing yarn from a wound package in a predetermined direction, comprising support means for supporting the yarn package; yarn deflecting means including a circular rim located in a plane normal to said predetermined direction and in the path of yarn to be withdrawn from the package; rotary means for producing a current of fluid flowing radially from and tangentially in direction of said rim whereby to space the yarn from the said rim and to urge the yarn to move around said rim, said rotary means comrpising a rotatable member provided with said rim and rotatable about an axis coincident with the axis of said yarn package and extending in said predetermined direction, said rotatable member comprising a pair of substantially circular juxtaposed plate portions spaced from one another in direction of said axes and defining between each other a passage for flow of fluid.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said plate portions each comprise a central portion and a peripheral edge portion surrounding said central portion, and wherein the central portion of at least one of said plate portions is provided with aperture means defining an inlet for fluid and communicating with the space between said plate portions for aspiration of ambient fluid thereinto in response to rotation of said rotatable member.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said rim is located in a plane normal to said predetermined direction.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the currentprodueing means comprises means for imparting to the current of fluid a rotary motion with reference to and transversely of said predetermined direction, whereby to simultaneously impose upon the fluid a first component of movement radially of said rotary motion and a second component of movement tangentially of said rotary movement so as to space said yarn from said rim and to entrain consecutive portions of the yarn for substantially circular movement about said rim.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said rotatable means comprises a pair of substantially circular juxtaposed plate portions spaced from one another in direction of said axis, and defining between each other a passage for flow of fluid.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said plate portions each comprises a central portion and a peripheral edge portion surrounding said main portion, and wherein the central portion of One of said plate portions is provided with aperture means communicating with said space for aspiration of ambient fluid thereinto in response to rotation of said rotatable member.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said one plate portion is farther spaced from said yarn package than the remaining plate portion.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein both of said plate portions are of complementary disk-shaped configuration and have juxtaposed surfaces tapering in direction away from said yarn package.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said space is of substantially constant cross-section.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said one plate portion is of dished configuration in the direction away from said yarn package, and wherein said remaining plate portion is substantially flat, whereby said space defined between said plate portions tapers in cross-section in the direction towards said rim.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim '11, wherein the taper of said space defined between said plate portions is such that the area of a circumferentially extending section through the taper is the same for all radii to the taper.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 8; and further com- References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,503,936 4/1950 Cochran 5758.83 2,729,050 1/ 1956 Honig.

FOREIGN PATENTS 344,351 3/1960 Switzerland.

STANLEY N. GILREATH, Primary Examiner. WERNER H. SCHROEDER, Assistant Examiner. 

